Brewers need to ditch T-Plush, keep Morgan

And I'm here to give the Brewers plenty of advance warning: If he's not fenced in, and soon, this is a guy who will sabotage all the great things happening in Milwaukee this summer.

Know where I got that idea?

From Tony Plush himself.

Yeah, I met Nyjer Morgan's alter ego, sort of, this spring when he was with the Washington Nationals. Back then, Morgan was going to be an important piece of the puzzle for the Nationals. Then-manager Jim Riggleman even said Morgan had been "outstanding" so far in the spring after a disappointing and controversial 2010.

Now, here's what Morgan told me in early March:

"I want to prove to myself and to the organization that the player in '09 is who they're going to get in '11, instead of the immature player from '10. I left Tony Plush behind."

That was my introduction to T-Plush.

"Tony Plush," Morgan told me, grinning. "That's from back in the day. Me and my friend. It's like Jekyll and Hyde.

"It got to the point where it was time to grow up. It's time to turn into a true professional. It's time to kick some ass."

And in Milwaukee, he has been kicking butt. He's hitting .313 with a .360 on-base percentage. He's stolen 12 bags in 15 attempts. He's sparked the Brewers.

But as we saw Wednesday night in St. Louis, Morgan has regressed badly in the professionalism department.

The uncalled for showdown with Chris Carpenter was bad enough. But referring to Albert Pujols as "Alberta" on Twitter later that night? Come on.

Clearly, Brewers general manager Doug Melvin does not plan to tolerate the antics. He said as much during a radio interview Thursday, noting that manager Ron Roenicke would talk with Morgan.

Both the Brewers and Morgan need to figure this out and get a handle on it pronto. Because this could be the most special season in Brewers' history.

Or, the man Melvin smartly acquired in late March -- just 3 1/2 weeks after Morgan promised me it was time to grow up -- could torch it all by himself.

Or, all by himselves.

Likes:Stephen Strasburg back in action. ... Texas-Angels, still close (hey, we've got to have at least one good race, don't we?). ... Ian Kennedy flourishing in Arizona. ... The way Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain have continued to pitch lights out and not uttered a word about the criminal lack of run support they've received in San Francisco this year. ... Always look forward to Michigan-Notre Dame. ... Looking for my guys at Monroe (Mich.) St. Mary Catholic Central to earn another W this Friday night, over Grosse Ile, and run that record to 2-1. ... Bob Seger back out on the road this fall.

Dislikes:Tim Wakefield's got to get his 200th win one of these starts, doesn't he? Poor guy is 0 for 7 in trying to get No. 200. ... Eddie Murphy hosting the Oscars. What's next, the Yankees starting a game at 11 p.m.? ... Finally catching up to this season's Entourage, which I thought jumped the shark last summer. Through the first couple of shows and it's lackluster enough I may not even finish this season.

Rock 'N' Roll Lyric of the Day:

"It seems that all my bridges have been burned"But you say, 'That's exactly how this grace thing works'"It's not the long walk home that will change this heart"But the welcome I receive with every start"

Brewers need to ditch T-Plush, keep Morgan

What a little sissy. Runs around like a 10 year old saying but we are in first place. Geeze dude grow up. As for saying something about Pujol's. Dumb move. Pujol's would smash him like a bug. This guy is gonna be looking for a new job somewhere at this pace and also gonna find a fastball under his chin if he keeps running his mouth.

Since: Mar 19, 2008

Posted on: September 8, 2011 8:28 pm

Brewers need to ditch T-Plush, keep Morgan

Morgan is looking to be someone who puts himself above the team and above the game. The best cure for an ignorant ego like this is a quick trip beneath the stands with a few of his teammates ... the ones who are about twice his size.:-) If they do it right, he'll be past his bruises and ready to play again when the playoffs begin.

Since: Nov 7, 2008

Posted on: September 8, 2011 7:23 pm

Brewers need to ditch T-Plush, keep Morgan

He's still in the league? Huh, well I guess this article a.) reminded us that he is still playing and b.) and let us know that he is a nutter. Sure, everyone wants to kick the crap out of Carpenter since he is a whiny bit@#, but when you are a failed prospect and picking on one of the best hitters of the past couple generations, that just proves how truly stupid you are. They should have let him take a swing at Carpenter and just let the chips fall where they may. Something tells me that he would have been eating out of a straw while he was tweeting.

Tony Plush? Sounds like a pimps name from a bad 70's blaxplotation movie or maybe a dogs name. Really, he wants people to call him that?

Since: Aug 21, 2006

Posted on: September 8, 2011 6:59 pm

Brewers need to ditch T-Plush, keep Morgan

Is this guy for real who is he Nyger Morgan? Tony Plush? Tony Hush? This one thing that will end his carer in a Brewers uniform quicker then any thing. The show down with the Cardinals Chris Carpenter was about as dumb as it gets. Then to harass Albert Pujols is just plain stupid. Jeykel and Hyde is the best way to describe him. Nyger Morgan is going to be singing Bob Seger's Down the road again.

Since: Apr 9, 2009

Posted on: September 8, 2011 6:23 pm

Brewers need to ditch T-Plush, keep Morgan

i agree...it is time for morgan to grow the hell up and let people see the talented ballplayer he truly is rather than some immature character